A Mom of Many Hats
by Debbie Fink and Lisa Perea Hane
“When one family member is on the cancer journey, the entire family is on the cancer journey. Building trust with – and among – the family members is essential to support them in moving from fear to strength as they navigate the healthcare system.”
– Debbie Fink
Research from the U.S. National Health Interview Survey identified that up to 2.85 million children (under 18 years old) in the U.S. lived with a parent with a cancer diagnosis (2011). A more recent study (2023) confirmed that these children’s psychosocial needs are unmet by parents and healthcare professionals (HPs). A Mom of Many Hats is a vital resource that is responsive to this gap in support, among and between families and their HPs:
“Supporting cancer patients’ children is becoming an urgent area of concern in psycho-oncological research and care. Our findings indicate that when a parent is diagnosed with cancer, parents find themselves unavailable to tend to their children’s needs due to the demands associated with the cancer diagnosis, and HPs consider themselves challenged to provide the support that parents and children are asking for. Consequently, children feel they are not seen and not heard by parents and HPs, and experience ongoing levels of heightened worry and distress as they feel alone in dealing with the diagnosis. The underlying mechanisms contributing to these findings are breakdowns in communication among children, parents, and HPs, in addition to barriers that prevent them from interacting with each other” (Alexander, E.S., Halkett, G.K., et al., 2023, emphasis added).
A Mom of Many Hats is a heartfelt, evidence-based book, created with a mother of three young children as she navigated her vulnerable journey with cancer. It conveys empathy, understanding, and kindness, initiating honest conversations while bridging the trust gap that comes when parents or health care professionals (HPs) do not explain things well.
Empowering through education, A Mom of Many Hats equips multiple generations with age-appropriate language for meaningful dialogue about cancer, cancer treatment, and healthcare. The story offers a safe space for children to express feelings, ask questions, and receive answers. Guided by the adults in the book – several reflecting historically under-supported communities – the child characters step into their agency, accelerate action, and gain trust they will carry with them as the next generation of healthcare navigators.
This storyline offers hope – without offering false hope – equipping readers with tools to help process, cope, and grow through one of life’s toughest challenges. The storyline helps readers and families move from fear to strength, together.
Additional information about A Mom of Many Hats and its initiative:
The story was developed with ongoing input from oncology clinicians, nurse navigators, social workers, and other professionals in the field; patients and their children; educators and child psychologists; patient advocacy groups; and legal reviewers.
It integrates Kubler-Ross’ stages of loss – Denial, Depression, Anger, Bargaining, and Acceptance – adding Shock and Regression to better reflect children’s experiences.
Its characters reflect diversity in the U.S., representing real people of different races, ethnicities, faiths, regions, and three generations–children, parents, and grandparents.
Up to 2.85M U.S. children under age 18 live(d) with a parent with a cancer diagnosis (U.S. National Health Interview Survey, 2011).
A more recent study (2023) confirmed that these children’s psychosocial needs are unmet by parents and healthcare professionals (HPs).
A Mom of Many Hats can help bridge the support gap and trust gap by leveraging sales forces to donate and purposefully place copies in established spaces – oncologists’ offices, hospital cancer centers, and patient advocacy groups.
3-Minute Documentary: Watch this short video that conveys the essence of this book and project: after reading A Mom of Many Hats, two young sisters planned a hat party for their mom. They were empowered to take pro-active steps during this family crisis, moving from fear to strength. This documentary captures just one of many demographics that the book and its story support.
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Impact of Book and Initiative, Phase 1, Pilot: ~60,000 family units (2011): parents with cancer, their school-age children; as well as their health care professionals, educators, counselors, and classmates.
In addition to providing parents, grandparents, caregivers and health care professionals with the language to have age-appropriate conversations about cancer with children, many school counselors also received copies. The purpose here was to develop social awareness and compassion within these children’s school communities.
English Edition’s Phase 1 pilot: In 2011, Eisai underwrote a one-year pilot to distribute the book nationwide for one year only. This pilot reached ~60,000 family units, as well as educators, counselors, and classmates.
Primed for Phase 2: After a long hiatus – we were hoping by now that cancer and chemo would be a thing of the past – it’s now time to support families affected by cancer in English-speaking nations with the highest cancer rates: once again in the U.S., as well as Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and the UK. Once funding is secured, this phase is ready to launch. Distribution of this story builds trust and builds community.
Spanish Edition: Cancer is a leading cause of death for Hispanic and Latino people in the United States (CDC) and in the Americas (Pan American Health Organization).
The initial Spanish translation of the book is complete, with a focus group of women from 10 Spanish-speaking countries reading the manuscript and providing valuable feedback (see photo montage below). Once funding is secured, the project is primed to enter Phase 1, supporting Spanish-speaking families facing the cancer diagnosis.
